Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Merchant (5)

#31

“···After soft fist it’s mut.”

Zerban muttered.

Whether too dumbfounded he did not even get angry and only stood blankly.

“Keuhe.”

But that was only for a moment.

The corner of Zerban’s mouth tore all the way to under the ears.

“Keha, khahaha! Uhahahat!”

A noisy mad laugh burst out.

After laughing for a long time he nodded while looking at Bran.

“I like it. This Zerban will face you.”

How much he laughed that tears even formed.

It was understandable to be dumbfounded.

It differs depending on the meeting point, but in the game Zerban’s level starts at minimum 8.

Turning to Belan he shouted while raising his voice.

“Belan! You don’t interfere!”

“Yes. Understood.”

Belan waved the curved sword gripped in her hand.

At the unexpectedly docile attitude Bran inwardly called for joy.

‘Done.’

A chance of winning arose.

Just by establishing a one-on-one match half was accomplished.

Bran opened his mouth while fixing his gaze on Zerban.

“You also don’t interfere. Ilark.”

“Wh-what how?”

Ilark’s face crumpled greatly.

“You of all people what nonsense are you saying after suddenly interfering? Do you think you can beat that bastard?!”

“Yes.”

Bran nodded.

Ilark was dumbfounded as is.

But as of now he had a higher win rate than Ilark.

Furthermore, to obtain the hidden piece he who knows the gimmick had to fight.

“You handle that psycho girl. Not an easy opponent so absolutely··· fuck.”

Bran spat out a curse.

It was the moment he hurriedly laid the longsword and took a defensive posture.

Zerban who charged like a gale swung his claws as if driving down.

Clang-!

As the blades interlocked a metallic sound rang out.

“Did you pick a fight with this Zerban to have a pleasant talk!”

Zerban roared.

The mane that grew along the nape was wavering like flames.

Zerban who raised his claws began to pour a fierce attack.

“Kuk···!”

Bran clenched his teeth.

Like Ilark it was a style of fighting by putting forward strong physical.

Every time he parried the attack sparks were rising.

“Bran!”

Ilark was astonished.

He knew it would become like that. It was a one-sided disadvantage to the point of being embarrassing.

Just as she was about to rush out to support Bran, the scales of the nape stood on end.

Dangerous.

It was a warning sent by instinct.

Ilark twisted her body as if shaking off.

Bang! Belan who had approached to close range at some point was bounced back.

“Good sense.”

“You.”

Ilark’s eyes narrowed.

She did not notice the presence while approaching to almost three steps interval.

Even getting lightly cut.

Slash!

The shoulder blade covered in muscle tore and blood gushed.

“I’ll try to send you without pain.”

Belan who lightly turned and gripped the curved sword aimed at her with the tip of the sword.

On the haughty face not a shred of tension could be found.

“Okay, I’ll burst that head!”

That point stimulated Ilark.

Blood vessels bulged along the temples of the enraged her.

Boooom!

The fist that fell like lightning drove down on the place Belan had been.

****

The battle continued for over ten minutes.

However, the balance of power was definitely tilting.

Boooom!

Bran who flew in a straight line collided with the wall.

“Kuek!”

A crack formed behind the back.

The vision was shaking due to the impact as if the spine was crushing.

However there was no time to rest. Raising his gaze Zerban flying toward him was visible.

Boooom-!

The moment Bran hurriedly twisted his head, a wolf’s foot larger than a child’s torso slammed into the place Bran’s head had been.

“Amazing sense. To dodge this too!”

Zerban admired.

Bran twisted his lips at the burning pain.

Noticing the fact that his left ear had disappeared was not that difficult.

“Huu··· huuu···.”

It was not only the ear that was injured.

There was no intact place on the entire body.

The parts guessed to be broken already exceed ten.

A crack went in the ribs. The broken rib was piercing the lung.

Two of the left fingers were almost with function lost.

The head had been suffering from mild concussion symptoms ever since starting the battle.

Nevertheless the reason he can endure is probably because of the experience of enduring even more fucked up past.

“I know too.”

Bran said.

Coming off the wall he adjusted his posture again.

The moment the sole of the foot touched the ground super recovery began.

『Heart of Harmeno activates! Recovery ability greatly increases while standing on the ground!』

It feels like becoming a tree.

The vitality of the earth was seeping into the body along the sole of the foot.

Bones attach and organs return to place. The cross section of the disappeared ear was gradually becoming hot.

Seeing the cartilage and flesh pieces slowly rising Zerban’s eyes sparkled.

“Interesting ability. Body Strengthening Art specialized in recovery?”

“I told you you’re a soft fist.”

Ptui. Bran spat the blood pooled in his mouth.

The reason hidden traits are regarded as important in Return Road.

Even Body Strengthening Art of a renowned recovery school needs to reach at least 5-star realm to become this level.

Gripping the sword hilt Bran charged again.

“Stick out your head! Mut!”

“Tough guy···! Don’t you still not know there’s no chance of winning?!”

Zerban’s eyes contorted.

Even while holding a one-sided advantage the smile was gradually disappearing from the face.

The conclusion would not come at all.

Unlike the beginning when he had the intention of playing, even while pouring only attacks that could sincerely die Bran was rising again while narrowly avoiding fatal wounds.

“This time for sure I’ll kill you!”

Boooom! The beast and the boy collided again.

At first it seemed even but without fail it became a situation where Zerban pushes.

Bran only parries or deflects.

Even that he could barely offset strongly incoming attacks only by applying Smash.

‘Damn strong really.’

Bran spat out a curse inwardly.

Even knowing it can’t be helped he got heated.

Like he cannot win Ilark in instant firepower, pressing Zerban with an orthodox method was close to impossible as of now.

Would there be a person who mocks saying an ordinary office worker loses fighting a silverback?

If he endures even 1 round they would praise saying a crazy genius appeared.

That kind of thing.

‘Just once.’

However he could not just keep getting hit like this.

Super recovery also has a limit.

Right now he is deflecting fatal wounds with combat sense and miscellaneous techniques, but if by any chance he makes a mistake and allows a large attack the fight ends as is.

He needed an opportunity to feed one hit.

Not something he creates, but a single opportunity intervening from outside.

And that was the same for Ilark.

“Haa··· haaaa···!”

Ilark caught her rough breath.

Her entire body was covered in large and small wounds.

There were none deep enough to reach bone or organs, but the amount of bleeding pouring was unusual.

“Exciting. It’s been a long time since such a prey.”

Belan muttered.

She was standing with arms crossed behind Ilark.

The eyes calmly scanning Ilark were reminiscent of a sculptor observing her own work.

“···You!”

Ilark swung her tail. Belan avoided the attack by lightly leaping, then threw two shuriken at Ilark.

Puk puk!

The shuriken that flew cutting the wind each stuck one in her back and tail.

At the unpleasantly stinging sensation Ilark shouted loudly.

“Don’t only run around like a mouse and properly stick!”

“Why would I? Then I lose.”

Saying that Belan hid her body in the darkness again.

Having learned the unique stealth art of the race she could hide her presence perfectly even in places without obstacles.

“This fuck, cowardly woman···!”

Ilark growled.

Bran’s words that it would not be an easy opponent were true.

The longer the battle the more the body was gradually tiring.

Belan’s combat method was persistent like ancient people hunting mammoths, and the compatibility with Ilark advantageous in short battles was very bad.

Of course if he just hits he had the confidence to kill in one strike, but Belan was avoiding her attacks while precisely adjusting the interval like a machine made by a devil.

“Ilark Zarheim. I know you.”

Suddenly, Belan’s voice rang out from the darkness.

“What?”

“Daughter of the Fire Dragon Zarheim. Pitiful dragon that cannot fly. Acting as if nothing in the world binds you, but in fact you are bound by blood more than anyone.”

Ilark’s eyes widened.

It was the subject she hates most in the world.

“Can’t you shut up?! What do you know to chatter that talk?”

“I heard about the method of kidnapping Leodorn. The assassin kids pretended to be peddlers and talked. Heard a rumor that they sell medicine that allows flying in the sky here, where do I have to go to buy it. You didn’t say get lost because you’re escorting. Rather you asked back. Does such a thing really exist?”

Ilark’s chest sank.

It was as Belan said.

The reason she could not protect Leodorn was because she looked away due to her own obsession.

When she turned back after the conversation with the peddler ended Leodorn had already disappeared.

Slaaaash!

Tearing the darkness and popping out Belan sent a slash to Ilark’s waist.

“Kraaak!”

“Hit.”

This time it was deep. A blood fountain gushed from the place the blade came out.

Disappearing into the darkness again Belan continued.

“Still don’t mind too much. Because defects exist everywhere. Like how children of wise kings ruin the country in abundance, even under a great dragon like Zarheim an impurity like you can come out.”

“Shut up! I said shut up!”

“Fortunate that it’s not your older brother here. If Alto had come Zerban and I would already not be people of this world.”

Ilark’s string of reason snapped.

Even knowing it was an obvious provocation she could not endure.

Guessing the direction Belan was she swung her fist with all her might.

“Kraaaa!”

Boooom-!

When the fist stuck into the ground the ground flipped.

However Belan was not in that place.

Popping out from right next to her she inflicted a wound on Ilark’s body again, and Ilark’s counterattack became a miss.

Fatal but not precise attack. Belan who narrowly avoids that.

How long did such a composition continue.

“Kuek.”

Ilark who was about to send a kick knelt on one knee and sat down.

“Huff, gak.”

It felt like the heart would burst.

Limbs were heavy as if hanging a heavy weight.

The fatigue accumulated from the time of facing Ironveil began to press the shoulders in earnest.

“······Fuck.”

Ilark’s reason returned.

At the same time tears flowed down one of her cheeks.

Tears coming out more from frustration than sadness.

From not far away Belan’s voice was heard.

“Don’t cry. If you die while crying the corpse becomes ugly.”

“Shut up···.”

“I’ll finish quickly so don’t worry. I’ll package you prettily and send to Zarheim. If you want the corpse of that old man you couldn’t protect together too···”

It was then.

Turning toward the waterfall Belan flinched and narrowed her eyes.

“What.”

Leodorn was not visible.

The chair he should be bound to was empty leaving only blood stains.

Belan hurriedly looked around.

Her gaze that was moving here and there stopped at one point.

“You.”

“Hiiik, g-got caught!”

Kale was horrified.

He got caught at the end.

He was secretly moving Leodorn according to Bran’s instructions.

Originally the reason they came this far was not fighting the Iron Blood Twin Shadows but rescuing Leodorn.

He was also deliberately not using Morning’s Blessing so that his existence would not be noticed.

“Huff··· huuuk···.”

Leodorn on his back was catching a faint breath while wrapped in a faint light.

A voice leaked from between the swollen lips.

“···Can.”

“Leodorn?”

Ilark’s eyes widened.

Whatever trick he used Leodorn’s condition had become much better than a moment ago.

For the first time a flustered sign crossed Belan’s face.

“My mistake.”

Originally she had forgotten the fact itself that three people entered.

Zerban was still not noticing while having a fierce battle with Bran.

Turning her back to Ilark Belan leaped toward the two.

“You. I’ll kill you.”

“Damn it, stop!”

Ilark screamed.

She had to follow right away and stop but the body did not move easily.

Trembling legs. Limp tail.

Nevertheless just as she was exerting all efforts to get up.

Paaaat!

Suddenly, a dim light cluster rose along her shoulder.

“This is···!”

Ilark’s eyes widened.

It was Morning’s Blessing the authority of Rawiena.

It felt that the body became greatly light. The fatigue that was quickly gnawing her was disappearing.

Ilark hurriedly turned to Kale.

He had temporarily put down Leodorn and was tightly gripping the staff with both hands.

At the tip of the white staff pure Divine Power visible to the eye was wavering.

Although the expression and lines were not fitting for the sublime action.

“Kyaaaak! Save me! Miss Ilark!”

The meaning was clear.

Kale chose the side of hanging on himself instead of fleeing avoiding Belan.

As the light wrapped the body strength enough to start the engine returned.

Ilark’s thighs swelled greatly.

Belan had still not reached Kale.

Kicking the ground and leaping Ilark extended her arm toward Belan.

“Stop! This bitch!”

“You got up somehow.”

Slightly turning back Belan sighed.

Futile effort. She perfectly grasped Ilark’s current state.

It might be different in the early battle, but the current Ilark exhausted as much as possible could never catch her.

It should clearly be so.

“Uh?”

Ilark’s movement was much faster than expected.

Looking well some light was blooming over the shoulder.

Realizing that it was a blessing perplexity settled in Belan’s pupils.

A boy that young bestows such a strong blessing?

Outside assumption. Just as Belan was about to retreat to recalculate.

Crunch!

Ilark’s hand grabbed the back of her head in the air.

“Caught.”

“······!”

Ilark growled.

Belan’s eyes widened. The sound of the skull crushing was ringing in the head.

Dangerous.

Her excellent brain began full operation to find a way to escape the situation.

“Ugh, keuuk···!”

However no answer came out at all.

Cannot avoid. Cannot shake off. Currently does not even have a tool for a miraculous recovery.

Hurriedly swinging the sword but the curved sword only stuck without cutting Ilark’s arm.

Then······.

“No choice.”

Belan made a bitter smile.

Ilark who flew as is in the gripped posture slammed Belan’s face into the cave wall.

Boooom-!

A red flower bloomed under Ilark’s hand.

Belan’s corpse that slid along the wall sprawled on the ground.

『You defeated Belan Lemamin the shadow of the Iron Blood Twin Shadows.』

『Commemorating the feat of defeating a strong enemy Strength, Agility, Mental Power increase!』

At the same time a message rose before Bran’s eyes.

Whether because they fought together it seems even what Ilark caught is counted as defeated.

“Be-Belan?!”

Zerban who belatedly grasped the situation was astonished.

He was still engaging with Bran without being able to land a decisive hit.

‘Now.’

Confirming that Zerban’s attention was scattered Bran tightly gripped the sword hilt.

『Activated skill “Power of the Giant Tree”. Strength value doubles!』

He had been waiting only for this moment.

Power of the Giant Tree activated. Bran’s limbs swelled explosively.

The vitality that had been swirling inside the body gathered into the longsword.

Releasing the defensive posture Bran rushed forward.

“You···!”

Zerban hurriedly turned his head but the interval had already been narrowed.

The thrust driven like a flash pierced his chest. Because it was a shape pushing up from below Zerban’s feet left the ground.

Puwaaaak!

The blade that eventually broke the armor came out while tearing Zerban’s back.